Writer: Pat Carlini
Photographer: Josh Brown
The locally owned and operated Pearl Street Pizzeria & Pub has been a popular spot downtown since 2010 and is now open in Geist at 10462 Olio Road.
Owner Dave Andrus says he knows this spot has changed hands a few times but, hes confident Pearl Street Pizzeria & Pub will do well.
We are focused on good food first, with a great family atmosphere, Dave says. We make a lot of menu items from scratch, and we offer some great pizzas and sandwiches. Pearl Street is also just a fun spot to have a beer and watch a game.
Dave, his wife Courtney and their two daughters, Ella and Emerson live in the Geist area, and he says hes been looking for a spot to open a restaurant in his own backyard for a while now.
When this spot opened up, I just knew this was it, he says.
Pearl Street Pizzeria & Pub General Manager, Tabitha Underhill says the new Geist location definitely adds a little more upscale, modern look to their Indy Pub style, but they kept the brick and wood floor look just with a little family style.
It features a large L-shaped bar with concrete countertops as the centerpiece of the pub, Underhill says. But, we also have a big private room for any events and the option to add on a private patio.
Underhill says it all turned out great, but, the outdoor seating area to the side of the building may be one of her favorite spots.
We offer a private, comfortable setting for those beautiful summer afternoons in Geist, she says.
Something Pearl Street Pizzeria made sure they did bring from the downtown location was some of those long-time menu favorites such as the Hawaiian pizza with pineapple and spicy capicola ham, topped with a Thai-chili sauce and the chicken alfredo pizza with chicken, tomatoes, mozzarella and their homemade alfredo sauce. For those who enjoy building their own pie, Pearl Street offers a variety of gourmet items such as anchovies, goat cheese, kalamata olives and smoked ghost pepper-jack cheese.
The new pizzeria and pub also offers a variety of starters such as the baked artichoke dip and mini calzones for guests to sample. Theres also full-sized calzones, wraps, oven baked pastas, soups and salads with homemade dressings. Guests can also enjoy a wide selection of craft beers, microbrews, wine and signature cocktails.
Pearl Street Pizzeria & Pub also prides itself in being eco-friendly by recycling everything they use and using bio-degradable products for their to-go ware.
Dave and Courtney – who have been in the restaurant business for 15 years – also own three Pure Eatery restaurants, including the downtown location and the one in Fishers that opened in 2015 on 116th street with partner Jason Jacobi.
Dave is hands-on as well and says there is a lot more to the restaurant business than making work schedules.
I like to know where everything is and how it works, he says. Theres always going to be a leak somewhere or a clogged toilet and I feel like I have to be there to handle it all.
He always did enjoy doing a lot of the work himself. He works hard, Courtney adds.
Courtney is also quick to add that she is excited about the new Pearl Street Pizzeria in their backyard.
I feel like we have come full circle, she says. We started with the downtown place and would hang out there with our friends, and here we are a few years later with a new pizzeria in our backyard hanging out with friends, but now they can bring their kids along, too.
Pearl Streets hours are 11a.m.- 11 p.m. Sunday-Thursday, and 11 a.m. – 1a.m. Friday and Saturday, with the kitchen closing at 10 p.m. For more information visit pearlstreetpizzeria.com or follow them on Facebook at PearlStreetGeist.
